Reason No. 99.2 (mph) why Reds can't give Elly De La Cruz a day off
· Yahoo Sports
Still think Elly De La Cruz needs a day off after watching the Cincinnati Reds shortstop this week against St. Louis Cardinals?
Visit betsport.cv for more information.
Think they have that luxury?
Never mind the fact that the biggest dude on the team looks like he wants to fight somebody when the idea is even suggested.
But even in the middle of a tough late-season stretch, the Reds’ best player delivered his first career game-winning hit on a night he got a half-breather as a DH after a string of four hitless games.
He accepted the DH role without an argument on that night, he said. “But not tomorrow.”
Tomorrow?
Next night, back at short, he fired a 99.2-mph relay throw from shallow center field to throw out the ironically named Blaze Jordan at the plate by two steps in the third inning of what became a one-run win.
These are moments that underscore why it’s so challenging to sit the two-time All-Star on either side of the ball and put a competitive big-league lineup on the field with the Reds’ current active roster.
That throw was the fourth-fastest assist by an MLB infielder in 12 seasons since Statcast began tracking such things.
De La Cruz has delivered the five fastest on that list, including a 99.8-mph assist earlier this month. In fact, his throws occupy 10 of the top 12 spots on the list.
fastest-tracked assists by infielders under Statcast (2015):
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) August 20, 2026
8/8/26 Elly De La Cruz: 99.8 mph
7/20/23 Elly De La Cruz: 99.8 mph
8/27/23 Elly De La Cruz: 99.7 mph
8/19/26 Elly De La Cruz: 99.2 mph
9/2/25 Elly De La Cruz: 98.8 mph
5/28/24 Gabriel Arias: 98.5 mph
6/14/25 Elly De… https://t.co/mEOkknu26w
Despite De La Cruz’s contention that “I feel good,” he has shown signs of fatigue over the past week or two.
That’s part of why he was back in the lineup as a DH for an afternoon series finale against the Cardinals, ahead of a flight to Phoenix for the Reds’ weekend series against the Diamondbacks.
“He’s actually been OK (with the DH decision),” manager Terry Francona said. “I think when you tell him you can either DH or not play … He’s been good.
“You try to be fair to the team and to him. You do the best you can.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reason No. 99.2 (mph) why Reds can't give Elly De La Cruz a day off